Barometric type steam vacuum refrigeration



Feb. 12, 1957' w. D. MAINS BAROMETRIC TYPE STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION m. 4 w d M, Ill l I m w y .m M V 1u d e 1 .l F

Feb. 12, 1957 w. D. MAINS BAROMETRIC TYPE STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION Filedl July 20., 1954 INVENToR.

W/z/AM 0. MAW;

United ttes 2,780,930- 'BARor/im'mc TYPE 'STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERAHN William D. Mains, Lake Success, Y., assignor to Graham Manufacturing Co., IncgNew York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Applicationlulyil, 19554,1SerallNo. 444,459

4 Claims. @no2-1542") unitand cooperate with the connected series of ejectors,

condensers and tank unit carried supporting means to support the parts forming the system` on the-tank unit for improved construction, assembly, operation and control.

The combined ash and seal tank unit. provides-for the` use of a rounded. partition memberv to form the bottomA of the flash tank for better` drainage, cleaningzand stressr distributing cooperation withV the shell. This partitionrmember has a tubular peripheral portion which facilitates positioning and assembly in theusingle shell in forming the combined tank unit'. AThis also enables a -flat base plate tofbe usedv on the bottom ofthe shell in supporting the-tank unit as well as cooperating with the partition member in providing the seal tank at the bottom. By combining the ash and seal tanks in asingletank unit a saving in cost of construction is achieved by the invention with the added advantages of fabrication in the factory, reduction inmaterial, and elimination of mate- -rialandlabor in erection at the point of use.

By employing the combined hash and sealtank unit, the invention provides for direct connection' ofthe barometric leg pipes with the unit for improving` the construction of the complete refrigeration unit by cooperating with the ejectors in supporting the condensers and eliminating the necessity for other supports.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side` elevation showing an assembled barometric type steam vacuum refrigeration' unit with'portionsv broken away and shown in cross section' to illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the unit in a positionV rotated clockwise approximately one hundred twenty degrees from that shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 4 4 of- Fig; 3.

The refrigeration assembly has a combined flash and 4seal tank unit 1 formed of a tubular shellA 2 of cylindrical shapev as shown inthe drawing. Shell 2 has the lower'end seated on base plate 3 and welded or otherwise secured thereto in liquid-tight relation. `A cap 4 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of shell 2 in tightly sealed relation. A partition member 5, as shown in Fig. 3,

`is mounted intermediate the ends of shell 1 in the lower end portion thereof. Partition member 5 has aperipheral portion 6 of substantially cylindrical shape for slidably engaging the inner wall surface of shell 1. One"edge arent O 2,780,930 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 lCe oft'portion is integral witha transverse wall 7 formed of partially sphericalE shape; as-shown in Fig. 3, so the central portion is lower ltha'nth'e edges. Peripheral por- -tlon 6 is welded or otherwise' Vsuitably''secured to shell 1 in uidti'ghr relationro' form a' hash tank S in the upper portion offthe'shell and a s'eal tank 9 in the lower end".

The tank unit 1 has a chilled water return 10 at the upper endl extending intoy ash tank 8 where the end is equipped with a water distributing cone 1`^1 for spraying water or other liquid used in the'a'sh tank for vaporizin'g and cooling in'a well known manner. Shell 2, near the bottom of flash tank 8,!is provided with a chilled'water outlet 12 and-a` manhole 13 for entrance to the interior of the flash Ytank f'or cleaning and repair purposes: A hash tafnkfdrain' 14 is connected to the lower central portion of transverse Wall 7 of partition member 5 and extends through the upper portion of the' seal tank outwardly through shell 2, as shown in the drawing.

Shell 2` has vent holes Y15 at the upper end of the seal -tank portionbelow partition member 5. A foundation-16j preferably of reinforced concrete is constructed 'tocarrythe weight of the complete assembled refrigera- 20iprbjeicting upwardly fromthe central portion. A tubular supporting pipe 21 isattached to bracket 20 and extends upwardly above the tank unit in coaxial relation. Pipe 21 supports primary barometric condenser 22 on the upper end in coaxial relation and'forms the upper portionolthe barometric leg for conducting condensate from the condenser to seal tank 9. A primary condenser barometric leg pipel 23 is connected to supporting pipe 21 above bracket 20, extends outwardly and then Vdownwardly outside of the tank unit to the lower end where it is connected to shell 2 near the bottom ofV seal tank 9. Water of condensation and condensing water is conducted by supporting pipe 214 and primary condenser barometric leg pipe 23 from primary condenser 22 to seal tank 9. Pipes 21 and 23 function as the barometric leg for the primary condenser inv maintaining the difference in water level therein in comparison with that in seal tank Si,v a minimum of approximately thirty-four feet, for maintaining the usual functioningof the primary condenser in maintaining reduced pressure in the flash tank. Barometric leg pipe 23 in having both the upper and lower ends attached to supporting pipe 21 and shell2, respectively, with the seal tank combined in a single unit with the ilash tank results in a saving in material, lower cost of construction and assembly, reinforcement of theassembled unit, and more accurate deL termination of the tank unit and pipe sizes and lengths for a given capacity refrigeration system.

A primary ejector or booster 24 has the lower end mounted on the upperend-of ash tank 1 by attachment to shell 2 in communication with ash tank 8. The'primary ejector is attached at the upper end to and communicates with the upper portion of primary condenser 22, as shown in Fig. l. Primary ejector 24 is of conventional construction having the usual steam inlet and nozzleA in the lowervend and exhausting into the primary condenser, also of conventional construction. A condensing water inlet 25v is connected to primary condenser 22 and a suitable source of supply, for discharging water or other condensing liquid in the primary condenser from distributing cone 26, as shown in Fig. 3. The water from cone 26 condenses steam in the primary condenser with the condensate and condensing water being drained off through pipes 21 and 23, as above stated.

Vacuum is maintained in primary condenser 22 by a second or intermediate ejector 27 connected to the upper end. Ejector 27 discharges into a second condenser 28. Water or other cooling liquid is sprayed into condenser 28 from a suitable source for condensing the Vapor withdrawn from primary condenser 22 in maintaining the desired degree of vacuum. Second ejector 27 and condenser 28 are both supported at one side of and attached to primary condenser 22. A second condenser barometric leg pipe 29 is connected to second condenser 2S at the upper end and to the lower end of shell 2 in communication with seal tank 9. Water of condensation and cooling water is conducted to the seal tank by pipe 29 which forms the barometric leg for secondary or inter-condenser 28.

A final or third ejector 30, Fig. 1, is connected to second condenser 28 for maintaining a suitable vacuum therein and has an exhaust pipe 31 connecting its discharge end to the lower end of shell 2. Pipe 31 has the lower end extending into seal tank 9 with discharge end 32 located adjacent overflow weir 18. The overow liquid contacts the discharge end for condensing steam exhausting therefrom and cooperates to create a suction for withdrawing steam from nal ejector 30.

The inter-condenser 28 has a condensing Water inlet and spraying means of conventional form. The second and third ejectors have the usual steam nozzles therein. Control valves are used to control the supply of steam to the several ejectors and condensing water to the condensers in a conventional and Well known manner.

A safety ladder and one or more platforms, not shown, and of conventional form, may be secured to the assembled unit so manual access is provided for operation of the various control valves for starting, stopping and maintaining the desired operation of the unit. Gauges and other conventional equipment may be applied in the usual locations on the assembled unit for indicating the information desired for the control and operation of the complete unit according to the results desired.

In constructing tank unit 1, transverse wall 18, partition member and base plate 3, cooperate to provide stress reducing cooperation for enabling the use of lighter gauge sheet metal with efficient stress distribution on base plate 3, so the unit eciently retains its shape in carrying and distributing the load to foundation 16.

In operation, the various controls are actuated to maintain the desired cooling liquid level in the ash tank, the desired operation of each of the ejectors and condensers to maintain a vacuum in the flash tank for cooling the liquid to the required temperature. The cooling liquid in the ash tank is circulated to apparatus, not shown, for producing the desired refrigerating operation. All water of condensation and condensing water is collected in the seal tank in maintaining the barometric leg operation with the condensers and ejectors in a single self-contained unit structure mounted on a single foundation. Excess cooling Water and condensate is discharged from a single out let or drain 17 at the bottom of the tank unit for such subsequent use as may bemade, according to Well known teachings in the art.

The invention claimed is :V

l. A steam vacuum refrigeration unit for support on a single substantially solid foundation, comprising a seal tank mounted on said foundation, a ilash tank mounted in superimposed vertically aligned relation on said seal tank, a supporting member extending vertically from the top central portion of said ash tank, a primary barometric condenser mounted in vertically extending relation on the upper end of said supporting member, a pipe forming a primary condenser barometric leg connected at the upper end for communication with the lower end of said primary condenser and connected at the lower end to the lower portion of said seal tank and providing communication between said seal tank and primary condenser, a primary ejector connected to said ash tank and primary condenser for maintaining a vacuum in said flash tank for cooling liquid therein, a secondary condenser adjacent said primary condenser, a secondary ejector connected with said primary and secondary condensers for normally maintaining a vacuum in said primary condenser, a secondary barometric leg pipe connected at the upper end to the lower portion of said secondary condenser and having the lower end connected to the lower portion of said seal tank for establishing communication therebetween, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said secondary condenser, whereby said flash and seal tanks with said attached supporting member, primary and secondary condensers, primary and secondary ejectors and said primary and secondary barometric leg pipes cooperate in supporting one another in forming an integral assembled refrigeration unit.

2. In a barometric condenser type of steam vacuum refrigeration wherein a three-stage series of steam ejectors is interconnected with primary and secondary barometric condensers in which the primary condenser is supported above the ash tank, the combination of a supporting tank unit. formed of a seal tank at the lower end having a base plate for supporting the unit on a foundation, a flash tank above said seal tank forming the upper end of said tank unit with said primary condenser supported on and above the upper end thereof, and primary and 'secondary barometric leg pipes connected to said tank unit at the lower end in communication with said seal tank and having connection at the upper ends with said primary and secondary condensers, respectively, whereby said pipes and tank unit cooperate to support said condensers with said steam ejectors in interconnected relation in forming a complete interconnected tank unit supported refrigeration unit.

3. In a barometric condenser type of steam vacuum refrigeration wherein a three-stage series of steam ejectors are interconnected with a flash tank, primary and secondary condensers in series relation for cooling fluid in the llash tank, the combination of a tank unit having a tubular upright shell, a base plate secured on the lower end of said shell for supporting said unit on a foundation, a cap closing said shell at Vthe upper end, and a partition wall in said shell between the upper and lower ends dividing said shell into an upper ash tank and a lower seal tank, said tank unit having said primary condenser supported on and above said unit on said cap, the iirst of said three-stage series of steam ejectors being connected to said ash tank portion of said unit and said primary condenser, and a plurality of substantially vertically extending spaced pipes connected to said seal tank at the lower end and at the upper end to said primary and secondary condensers and the last stage of Ysaid series of steam ejectors, whereby said pipes cooperate in supporting said ejectors and condensers above said tank unit in rigid cooperative relation to form a complete refrigeration assembly for refrigerating liquid in said flash tank and collecting condensate in said seal tank in maintaining uniform operation of barometric legs for said condensers through said pipes.

4. In a barometric condenser type of steam Vacuum refrigeration wherein a plurality of steam ejectors and vcondensers in series relation normally maintain a vacuum in a ashtank, the combination of a tank' unit having 'a vertically extending tubular` shell, a substantially ilat base plate vsecured in liquid-tight relation on the lower extremity of said shell and supporting the assembled unit, a cap closing the upper end of said shell in fluid-tight relation, a partition member dividing said shell into an upper flash tank portion and a lower seal tank portion having a tubular peripheral portion fitting the inner surface of said tubular shell intermediate the ends of said afraoao shell and sealed thereto in uid-tight relation and having a downwardly curved portion extending inwardly from said peripheral portion to the central portion thereof, said ejectors and condensers being connected to and supported by said tank unit, and barometric leg pipes connecting said condensers with said seal tank portion of said tank unit and also cooperating in supporting said condensers on said tank unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

